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New York Vacation - Where to eat

For my sixteenth birthday, my mom and I are going up to New York (I'm from the Philly suburbs) for a few days on a culinary-based vacation. We're planning on taking a cooking lesson and also seeing NYU. I've been to New York before, but not since I became a foodie. We're staying right on Washington Square, but we're competent enough with the subway and can take a taxi if necessary. I was planning on a lunch at Shake Shack, but other than that I am having an extremely difficult time deciding where to eat otherwise. We don't have to be extremely cost conscious, but I think that Le Bernardin is probably out of the picture. I was just wondering where we should eat and what I should eat. Thanks for the advice!

17 Comments:

Momofuku Noodle Bar or Ssam Bar

The Shake Shack. Les Halles for Sunday Brunch. Junior's in Brooklyn for dessert. If they've reopened, Totonno's on Coney Island.

the spotted pig is great for lunch (no crowds). i'm a fan of dim sum at jing fong in chinatown (manhattan), then walking across the brooklyn bridge and eating pizza at grimaldi's and ice cream at the brooklyn ice cream factory.

I am vegetarian and I say Le bernadin is still an experience to be had... check out my experiences here...

And now that you consider yourself a foodie, you must visit the Union Sq Farmer's Market. It is really special. It made me want to move back into the city again...

L'ecole, the French Culinary Inst. Restaurant in SOHO. FANTASTIC food and service (sommelier was very helpful)... for a great price..dinner 4 or 5 course for $42, which usually also includes an amuse and some baked goodies to go! You can not beat this price for a great foodie experience.

Cafe Habana, also in SOHO. Cuban sandiches and must have cuban grilled corn on the cob.. great stop of lunch. (see my rendition of their grilled corn below)

Hong
Ravenous Couple: Cooking up Life


A great place is in Little Italy called Il Cortile. We are second generation Italians and this place is incredibly tasty! My husband swore that their Rigatoni in Ragu (meat sauce) was better than his mothers, and thats huge!
Sit outside, its a really "Italian New York" experience.

What a GREAT birthday present!

If you're staying right on Washington Square, you MUST go to Otto, Mario Batali's enoteca! I don't go for the pizza, but for the fantastic Antipasti (some as low as $4!), cheese plates, and gelato. DO. NOT. SKIP. THE. GELATO!!! www.ottopizzeria.com

I'd also recommend Keste in the West Village for real-deal Neopolitan pizza; the chef/owner is the president of the Neopolitan Pizza maker's association! www.kestepizzeria.com

If you like Indian food/flavors, you just can't go wrong with Bread Bar or Tabla; they're one big restaurant but BB is downstairs and a bit more casual in attitude, menu and service. Both are terrific. www.tablany.com

Thanks for all the sugestions.

We're definitely going to hit the greenmarket on the way out so I can cook some delicious meals when we get home.

Keep the suggestions coming!

Taim: amazing falafel
Jean Georges: unbeatable value for lunch
Kefi: opa!
Levain: delicious [ & enormous] cookies

Almost forgot---You've gotta try some of the food carts. They're everywhere, and everyone has a favorite.

i just had a great meal at jack's luxury oyster bar in the east village! you could walk there from washington square park.

also, if you like chocolate, you could walk over to bespoke chocolates in noho. it's this cute little place, the people that work there are really nice and the chocolates are delicious.

I was considering going to Butter (not for the celebs, but for the food). Is it worth it?

go to the dosa man on washington square south!!

you can do better than butter. casa mono, lupa, babbo, little owl, kyo ya, degustation, ippudo, blue ribbon brasserie, bacaro and perbacco are in the same (if not below) butter's price range and offer a more memorable dining experience. i second momofuku ssam, l'ecole, jlob and the spotted pig. corner bistro also serves good burgers but not sure if they allow anyone under 21.

oh when i was your age, i started getting really into restaurants, this would have been such an awesome gift!

for cheap-ish or casual food
shake shack
ippudo
david's bagels or ess-a-bagel
kossar's bialys - and donut plant next door
shopsins
burger at peter lugers (lunch only) get a side of bacon - a must
red egg for dim sum

a nicer dining experience
lupa
spotted pig
eleven madison (lunch would be nice and less formal)
gramercy tavern

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